Flushable vaginal applicator

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is directed to a single use vaginal applicator for oil and water emulsion medicaments such as spermicides which maintain the medicament during a long shelf life but are composed in large part of low wet strength paper which decomposes readily upon contact with water. This makes the applicators disposable by flushing in a toilet. The only non-water decomposable members are relatively small in size and will not cause obstructions in plumbing.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,850,173

Dash Nov. 26, 1974 [54] FLUSHABLE VAGINAL APPLICATOR 2,616,423 11/1952 Kurkjian 128/261 2,691,980 10/1954 Jones 128/261 [75] lnvemor- Dash Englewood Chffs, 3,656,482 4 1972 Sunnen 128/261 [73] Assignee: American Home Products Primary ExaminerAldrich F. Medbery Corporation, New York, NY. Attorney, Agent, or FirmJoseph Martin Weigman [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 21 App1.No.:355,393 [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure is directed to a single use vaginal applicater for oil and water emulsion medicamcnts such as 128/ spermicides which maintain the medicament during a [58] d 2 270 long shelf life but are composed in large part of low 0 are 264 265' wet strength paper which decomposes readily upon l contact with water. This makes the applicators disposable by flushing in a toilet. The only non-water de- [56] References Cited composable members are relatively small in size and UNITED STATES PATENTS will not cause obstructions in plumbing. 2,077,176 4/1937 Lermer 128/261 2,486,056 10/1949 Oclassen 128/261 2 Clam, 3 Drawmg Flgures FLUSHABLE VAGINAL APPLICATOR The present invention is directed to disposable vaginal applicators. More particularly it is directed to single use disposable vaginal applicators which decompose upon contact with water and so are flushable down a toilet. The only non-water disposable water decomposable elements are relatively small and do not cause blockage in the plumbing system.

The closest known prior art is US. Pat. Nos. 2,486,056, 2,720,881 and 2,691,980. The present invention is distinguishable from the prior art in the use of relatively small non-water decomposable elements supported by necessarily large elements which are water decomposable. The fact of water decomposition, or low wet strength, makes the applicators disposable with substantially no risk of plugging of a plumbing system.

The oil in water emulsion and water based resistant components may be made of polyethylene, polyvinyl or other suitable plastic or metal, as is known in the art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable vaginal applicator which is suitable for use with oil in water emulsions of water based medicaments.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a single use vaginal applicator which readily decomposes on contact with water.

Other and further objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a preferred embodiment of the applicator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the applicator of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the applicator of the present invention.

The objects of the present invention may be achieved as is seen in FIG. 1 with an applicator which is made up of a first cylindrical body member 12 which is preferably made up of a low wet strength paper. Disposed within the first cylindrical body member 12 is an oil and water impervious liner 14 which serves to contain the oil-water emulsion medicament 16. An outer seal 18 is applied to the exterior of the first cylindrical body member 12 in sealing engagement, for instance by use of adhesives. Scores 20 are provided in the outer surface of the seal 18 to increase its frangibility and insure controlled breaking under pressure during discharge of the contents 16.

An alternate means of sealing the ends of the applicator is a tear strip around the end of the outer seal 18. This is particularly suitable when relatively strong seals are used.

A second cylindrical member 22 is disposed partly within and partly without the first cylindrical body member 12. A diaphragm or plunger seal 24 of oil and water impervious material is fixably attached to the end of the second cylindrical member 22. It serves to retain the medicament 16 within a chamber 26 formed by the liner l4, thie seal 18 and a diaphragm 24.

If desired a guide 28 may be applied at the end of the first cylindrical member 12 opposite the seal 18. The 6 guide contains an orifice which is adapted to permit easy passage of the second cylindrical member 22 but to control itsdirection of application and to prevent its falling out of the first cylindrical member.

In operation the medicament-containing end of the applicator 10 is inserted into the body orifice to be medicated, and the medicament 16 is expelled by moving the second cylindrical body member 22 relative to the first cylindrical body member 12 so as to reduce the size of the chamber 26, cause increased pressure on the seal 18 which ruptures along the score 20, causing the contents to be discharged into the body opening.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. There an applicator 30 which is comprised of a first cylindrical body member 32 which has disposed in its adjacent one end a liner 34. The liner is closed by a seal 36 which may be fastened directly to the liner and made of the same material as the liner. The connection of the two may take place by use of adhesives, by heat or by ultrasonics. If desired the seal may be scored in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1 was scored as is shown in FIG. 2. A second cylindrical body member 38 has at one end a diaphragm or plunger, 40 which is preferably of the same material as the liner 34. The diaphragm 40 along with the liner 34 and the seal 36 define a chamber 42 to contain a medicament 44.

If desired the end portion 46 of the first cylindrical member may be necked down to provide a sleeve through which the second cylindrical member passes and is guided in its movement. Also, if desired, knurling 48, or a series of annular ridges, may be applied on the outer surface of the end portion in order to provide a firmer finger grip.

In operation the second cylindrical member 38 is moved relative to the first cylindrical member 32 creating a pressure in the chamber 42 causing the seal 36 to rupture and the medicament 44 to be discharged into the body opening.

What is claimed is:

1. A single use vaginal medicament applicator comprising:

A. A low wet strength first cylindrical body member having a distal end, 1. An oil and water resistant cylindrical liner disposed inside said first cylindrical body member extending along and adjacent said distal end thereof,

2. Means for providing a medicament protection and discharge means comprising a frangible oil and water resistant seal fixedly connected to the outer end of said liner and to said first cylindrical body distal end;

B. A low wet strength second cylindrical body member slidably' received within said first cylindrical body member and said liner with one end extending outside thereof,

1. An oil and water resistant plunger diaphragm mounted on the end of said second cylndrical member extending inside said liner and defining a chamber and sealing the contents of said liner and constituting a means to expel the contents from the liner by force applied'to said second cylindrical member.

2. A vaginal applicator as defined in claim 1 further including a means on said first cylindrical body members proximal end for guiding said outside extending second cylindrical body member in said first cylindrical body member. 

1. An oil and water resistant plunger diaphragm mounted on the end of said second cylndrical member extending inside said liner and defining a chamber and sealing the contents of said liner and constituting a means to expel the contents from the liner by force applied to said second cylindrical member.
 1. An oil and water resistant cylindrical liner disposed inside said first cylindrical body member extending along and adjacent said distal end thereof,
 1. A single use vaginal medicament applicator comprising: A. A low wet strength first cylindrical body member having a distal end,
 2. Means for providing a medicament protection and discharge means comprising a frangible oil and water resistant seal fixedly connected to the outer end of said liner and to said first cylindrical body distal end; B. A low wet strength second cylindrical body member slidably received within said first cylindrical body member and said liner with one end extending outside thereof,
 2. A vaginal applicator as defined in claim 1 further including a means on said first cylindrical body members proximal end for guiding said outside extending second cylindrical body member in said first cylindrical body member.
 2. Means for providing a medicament protection and discharge means comprising a frangible oil and water resistant seal fixedly connected to the outer end of said liner and to said first cylindrical body distal end; B. A low wet strength second cylindrical body member slidably received within said first cylindrical body member and said liner with one end extending outside thereof, 